The 2013-14 English Premier League season is coming to a close and all has yet to be decided at both ends of the table. The title and relegation races have made the season a fascinating one, but in truth it has been a season of few highlights. The only team to provide a consistent level of entertainment has been Liverpool, but in Luis Suarez they have a talisman that few neutrals embrace. Suarez has been the nearest to a genuine superstar player in the EPL this year, but remains an unpopular figure outside of Anfield Road. The managers have provided the real talking points of the season, which is not a good thing. The game should be about the players and the fans, but somehow the EPL has become a sideshow to the man in the technical area. The headliners have been Brendan Rodgers, Tony Pulis, Roberto Martinez, David Moyes, Andre Villas-Boas, Jose Mourinho, and Arsene Wenger. The manager of the year award is still up for grabs with Martinez, Pulis, and Rodgers the only ones in contention. The final position of their respective teams Everton, Crystal Palace, and Liverpool will determine their fate.

Rodgers took over a moribund Liverpool and has rebuilt the club in just over a year in charge. They play an attacking brand of football reminiscent of their teams of the late 1980’s as opposed to those of the 1970’s, which bored fans of that generation. The Irishman has been immensely influenced by his time observing Spanish football and by his former boss Jose Mourinho. If Liverpool were to win the title, one wonders whether Barcelona or Real Madrid would see him as a progressive manager to take either club forward. Everton have always been a club that most neutrals admire and under Martinez that reputation has only been enhanced further. Like Rodgers across Stanley Park, the Spaniard coaches an exciting brand of football that is rooted in his home country. The fourth and final Champions League spot is Everton’s to lose and were they to finish above Arsenal, Martinez will be sought after. He could even be the long-term successor to Arsene Wenger when the Frenchman steps down at the Emirates. Crystal Palace were dead and buried when Pulis took over in late November. The turnaround in the club’s fortunes has been staggering and if Palace stay up, the credit must go to the former Stoke City manager. His team is playing with discipline, tactical organization and a work rate that could see them retain their Premier League status for the first time. Most teams (Sunderland, Cardiff City, Fulham, West Brom) that replace their managers mid-season tend to struggle after the initial boost in fortunes, but Pulis’ side is proving the exception to the rule.

Where would the 2013-14 EPL season be without the comic relief provided by David Moyes? His appointment has allowed a generation of Man City and Liverpool fans to feel, for the first time, comfortable in ridiculing their bitter rivals. The Scotsman was Alex Ferguson’s personal choice to replace him and his hiring has been an unmitigated disaster. Liverpool winning the title will only compound Ferguson’s error in judgment, one that could sour his legacy at Old Trafford. It is hard to believe that United under Moyes will return to their previous levels of success. The football is dour and negative. Plan A is to stifle the opposition which is not how United fans want the game to be played. There is no Plan B. Extra Time predicted in preseason that Manchester United under Moyes would not finish in the top four and would not win a trophy. Some United fans ridiculed that predication at the time. Not today. What United’s travails under Moyes show are just how good a job Ferguson did in his last season in charge. The legendary knight managed to win last year’s title in a cantor, which has more to do with his sheer will to win than the overall ability of United’s squad. United will not remain in the wilderness for long because Moyes will be fired before the real rot sets in.Jose Mourinho might just be about to oversee a League and Champions League double yet he continues to say Chelsea are underdogs. The Portuguese is taking the pressure off his own team and at the same time, himself. If he wins the league, he will accept the glory of an unlikely success and the continuation of his aura as the Special One. If he loses it, he will say, “I told you so.” He likes to have it both ways and is supported by an enamored media that needs to ask him to justify his viewpoints.

Andre Villas-Boas fell on his sword after Liverpool beat Tottenham 5-0 at White Hart Lane in December. At the time Spurs were only five points off the Champions League spots and still in the League Cup, the FA Cup, and the Europa Cup. Five months later and the club are out of all competitions and fighting to remain in contention for sixth position and a place in next year’s Europa League. Villas-Boas replacement, Tim Sherwood, has been a disaster despite some decent results and a mediocre improvement in performance. He is a manager who is trying to rewind to his playing days, but football is more progressive now than when Sherwood was a hard working midfield player in Blackburn Rovers title winning side of 1994-95. He needs to go away and learn his new trade, invest in some media training, and do so at a club in the lower leagues. He is a Premier League manager by default and in 10 years time will be no more successful than the likes of John Gregory, Kevin Keegan, and Gary Megson.

Arsene Wenger was the most progressive manager in English football when he arrived at Highbury in 1996. He rebuilt a club which used to be nicknamed ‘boring, boring Arsenal’ or ‘lucky Arsenal.’ That history is unknown to the Sky EPL generation of the club’s supporters, as Arsenal has been reshaped in Wenger’s likeness. He has stuck to his principles on how he wants the game played, the type of players he signs, and the way he spends money. There is a lot to admire, from a coaching perspective, about his attitude, but the new touristy type of Arsenal fan has grown tired of the lack of silverware and tired at the lack of progress in the Champions League. The fans see the club as going backwards while Chelsea and Manchester City have invested vast sums of oil money in on the field success. Wenger must win the FA Cup or those fans will seek his resignation.

Always enjoy Dave Clarke's writing and soccer insight. As a fly-by-night Spurs fan in America, love to side with him as we share our angst over the selling of the likes of Bale and Modric while watching the horrendous carousel of managers ensue. Still excited to see them play my Sounders up close this summer though!

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Flabbs

4/27/2014 23:32:42

Giggsy for next Man U manager! Intersting article... I hate to say it, but I must agree that Liverpool's brand of football has been quite tasty. I found myself drawn to watching Liverpool games this year to get in my fix as my Red Devils clearly underwent a not so attractive transformation under Moyes. Many have said Moyes needed more time- I say those people are morons. Ultimately he had to go and the right decision was made. Noboby can take away from Moyes what he did at Everton, but this is Manchester United... a different level, a higher caliber of performance has become the expectation. His two major signings shit the bed and the many once firey world class players that he adopted became lethargic throughout. The attacking style with tempo, creativity, and desire diminished. Giggsy said he would bring that back and I trust in that- it was refreshing seeing him on the touchline holding his arms up as if to say "speed it up, come on lads!" Recognizing this is meant to be only a temporary position (4 games) for Giggsy, I think the board and owner ship should think long and hard before bringing on the likes of Van Gaal, when you've got a man in hand with 26-27 years of experience with the club and all of the knowledge from Sir Alex that brought United endless trophies and titles.

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Dave Clarke

Head Women's Soccer Coach at Quinnipiac University and US National Staff Coach who received a Masters in Journalism from QU. A Spurs and Celtic supporter.